Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, has rejected the landslide re-election of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, describing the outcome as “completely fabricated” and accusing the government of staging a sham poll marred by violence, intimidation, and deadly protests.
According to official results announced early Saturday, President Hassan secured more than 97 percent of the vote, extending her rule over the East African nation. However, the opposition and several human rights organizations have disputed the credibility of the results, saying the election fell far short of international democratic standards.
Election marred by exclusion and unrest
The controversy surrounding the election erupted after Chadema and other major opposition parties were barred from participating in the polls. Their exclusion triggered nationwide protests, with demonstrators accusing the government of orchestrating a political lockdown and silencing dissenting voices.
Protests turned deadly in several regions, including Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, and Arusha, where witnesses reported violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces. Eyewitness accounts and footage shared on social media showed police firing tear gas and live ammunition to disperse crowds.
The opposition claimed that hundreds of Tanzanians were killed, while the United Nations said it had credible reports confirming at least ten deaths. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, documented a worrying pattern of enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings in the weeks leading up to the vote.
In response to the escalating unrest, authorities imposed a nationwide curfew and restricted internet access shortly after Wednesday’s election, a move widely condemned by activists as an attempt to suppress evidence of abuse and limit free expression.
Hassan hails “collective victory” amid criticism
Accepting her victory certificate in Dodoma, President Hassan described her triumph as a “collective victory for Tanzanians” and a testament to the nation’s democratic maturity.
“This election was a test — not only of the popularity of our manifestos and development agenda but also of the maturity of our democracy,” she declared.
Hassan also used her speech to criticize protesters, describing their actions as “unacceptable, uncivilized, and unpatriotic.” She thanked the country’s security agencies for maintaining order and ensuring that, in her words, “the chaos witnessed did not alter or stop the election process.”
“Patriots build their countries and do not destroy what their fellow countrymen’s blood and sweat built. The government strongly condemns these recent events,” she added.
Opposition vows to challenge results
Despite the government’s firm stance, Chadema maintains that the protests are proof that Tanzanians reject the election outcome. The party’s leadership has called for international intervention and urged the African Union and the United Nations to investigate what it describes as widespread fraud and state-sponsored repression.
“This was not a genuine election — it was a coronation,” said Tundu Lissu, Chadema’s detained leader, in a statement relayed through his lawyers. Lissu, who has been imprisoned for months on treason charges, had earlier demanded electoral reforms to ensure transparency and equal participation for all parties.
Another opposition figure, Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-Wazalendo party, was disqualified from contesting, further fueling claims that the government manipulated the process to guarantee Hassan’s victory.
A nation divided
The disputed results have deepened political divisions in Tanzania, a country long praised for its stability and peaceful transitions of power. Analysts warn that the recent crisis threatens to erode decades of relative calm and undermine public trust in democratic institutions.
For many Tanzanians, the 2025 election was supposed to mark a turning point — an opportunity to strengthen democracy and reaffirm faith in political accountability. Instead, it has left the nation grappling with a legitimacy crisis and mounting international scrutiny.
CCM’s dominance continues
At stake for the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party was its six-decade-long grip on power. Since Tanzania’s independence from Britain in 1961, the CCM — a party that traces its roots to socialist ideals and maintains close ties with the Communist Party of China — has governed continuously.
Hassan’s victory further extends that legacy, marking yet another orderly transition within the ruling party despite widespread allegations of political repression. Her administration has positioned itself as a champion of national unity and economic modernization, emphasizing infrastructure growth and foreign investment.
Political observers, however, argue that these achievements are overshadowed by shrinking civic space and the government’s heavy-handed response to dissent.
From vice-president to political powerhouse
Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania’s first female president, assumed office in March 2021 following the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli, just months into his second term. Then serving as vice-president, Hassan’s elevation to the presidency was initially hailed as a step toward inclusivity and reform.
Yet, her leadership has become increasingly controversial, with critics accusing her of perpetuating Magufuli’s hardline tactics while projecting a softer international image.
Her landslide re-election, while celebrated by loyalists as a symbol of stability, has been condemned by opponents as a blow to democracy.
The road ahead
The international community is closely monitoring developments in Tanzania, where fears of further unrest persist despite the government’s clampdown.
Diplomatic missions from the United States and the European Union have called for restraint, transparency, and dialogue between the government and opposition groups.
As curfews remain in force and opposition figures remain detained, questions linger about whether President Hassan can reconcile a divided nation and restore confidence in Tanzania’s democratic process.
For now, Chadema and other opposition movements have vowed to continue their resistance through legal and peaceful means, while many Tanzanians wait anxiously to see what lies ahead for a country once seen as an anchor of stability in East Africa.
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